MSU Extension 4-H Exploration Days

Youth ages 11-19 can attend 4-H Exploration Days, June 24-26, 2020, on the campus of Michigan State University, where they attend one or two sessions throughout the three-day event from over 200 sessions offered, including business and entrepreneurship sessions. There are five half-day sessions (five hours) and one full session (nine hours) offered that will allow youth to explore how to start their own business, how to better their livestock project and what it is like to run your own business.

First-half sessions (half day)

Are you a young person who loves working with children? Are you curious about starting a babysitting business and earning some money? Youth taking the “Business of Babysitting” class will gain skills and knowledge to care for children. Developing a basic business plan and how to market to your potential customers will also be covered.

Youth taking the “Five Principles of Marketing Your 4-H Livestock" class will explore the five P’s of marketing—product, price, place, promotion and people—and how it effects selling your project livestock. Youth will learn the basics of these principles through an exciting game that demonstrates how various marketing factors can produce a higher or lower break-even price for the sale of the animal.

Did you ever wonder what life on a dairy farm is like? The “Life on a Dairy Farm” class gives youth a chance to observe careers in the dairy industry. A fast-moving board game called Life on a Dairy Farm combines real family farm mishaps and gives youth a chance to develop critical thinking, money and math skills. Youth will also learn about MSU’s dairy-related academic programs. A visit to the MSU dairy barn gives youth an overview of the daily operations of running a dairy farm, ranging from the dairy calf housing to the milking parlor.

Second-half sessions (half day)

In “Beat the Competition: 4-H Livestock Marketing," youth will learn how to grow the potential profit of their 4-H livestock projects and a variety of marketing and communication strategies. During the field trip to the MSU Beef Teaching and Research Center, youth will learn two different livestock systems.

Get ready to roll the dice on the “Reality Farm” game to see if your simulated 4-H project animal makes as much money as your real life livestock project. Is farming in your future? Discover how record books can help you develop a business plan and a career path.

Second-half sessions (full day)

Youth taking the “Turning Ideas into Products” session will have the chance to create a new product using creative and innovative thinking. Youth will have the chance to develop a prototype of their product, create a marketing campaign and promote their business idea in a product-pitch competition.

Michigan 4-H Exploration Days gives youth a chance to explore all different areas of interest from healthy living and livestock to science and business plus a whole lot more. The 2020 registration book will be available with full class descriptions at the end of February on the 4-H Exploration Days website. Registration begins March 11. Please check with your local MSU Extension office for more information. Visit the 4-H Exploration Days website for more information and to register.